Agricultural implement with common mechanism for raising/lowering and rotating a lift frame about a vertical axis

An agricultural implement adapted to be pulled by a tractor with a hitch and convertible between a use position and a transport position, comprising:

• a carrier frame including a plurality of ground support wheels;
• draft means connected to said carrier frame for connecting said carrier frame to the tractor hitch;
• a lift frame assembly including a laterally elongated integral lift frame and plurality of work units spaced along said lift frame, said lift frame being extended in a direction transverse of the direction of travel of said tractor when said lift frame is in the use position;
• power sliding lift means mounting said lift frame to said carrier frame for selective raising and lowering said lift frame assembly along a vertical axis between (i) a lowered use position in which said work units are in a working relation with the soil;
• (ii) an intermediate raised position wherein said work units are raised to permit said implement to turn, and (iii) a second raised position above said first raised position, wherein all of said work units are above said carrier frame, said implement characterized in that the distance between said vertical axis and the center of gravity of said lift frame remains substantially constant as said lift frame is raised and lowered, and wherein said power sliding lift means includes first bearing means for sliding engagement between said lift frame and said carrier frame;
• power swing means coupled to said power sliding lift means for rotating said lift frame in said second raised position about said vertical axis between a transverse position and a longitudinal position wherein said lift frame is generally aligned with the direction of travel;
• and second bearing means for mounting said lift frame assembly to said carrier frame for rotation between said transverse and longitudinal positions.

In an agricultural implement adapted to be drawn by a tractor and including a carrier frame provided with support wheels, and a lift frame carried by said carrier frame, the improvement comprising:

• a lift post mounted to said carrier frame for rotation about a vertical axis;
• a sleeve mounted on said lift frame and slidably received on said lift post for vertical movement relative to said carrier frame between a lowered position and at least one raised position;
• a first power means for raising said lift frame relative to said carrier frame;
• and a second power means for turning said lift post about said vertical axis;
• said sleeve and said post being constructed and arranged such that said sleeve is in rotational driving engagement with said lift post in at least said raised position, whereby when said lift frame is moved to said raised position by said first power means, said sleeve and said lift post are in rotational driving engagement and said second power means may be actuated to turn said post and said lift frame to position said lift frame longitudinally of the direction of travel.